Wanna read My PTR? Your Stunned Silence Is VERY Reassuring. (Finished: 2/10/11)

[Momof626x3]

I'm really enjoying your pre trip report! We're going to Disney the same week as you and I'm hoping for great weather and low crowds! Our family has stayed at an off site villa before and we loved the extra space and LOVED how fast we were able to get to the parks using our own transportation. I think you made a good decision!

The way you are surprising your kids with the timing is great! I love the pizza/cookie idea. I can't wait to hear how it goes! You better end up doing a full TR! I like your writing style and humor.

June 14th or so, 2010

We will be able to get ahead of the general public and masterfully sneak by them later in the day like Harry Potter does to Snape.

I couldn't have put that any better myself!

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Ok, just too funny! LOVE LOVE LOVE your sarcasm, lol. Not that I can't be sarcastic, but I think you take the cake, lol. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[BigTex71]

Wow loving reading this. We surprised the children on christmas day with the fact we are going to disney on 3rd feb. We are actually in HS on the fri the same day as you.
By the way I'm hopping over here from FVC on TGM, same username!!
Was intrigued when you posted over there about having a Pre trip report.
hope the surprise of telling them goes well.

Thanks for dropping in! Maybe I'll see you at RD for HS that Friday.

I have some more minor updates, hopefully I will have time to put in a new entry tonight.

 

[BigTex71]

I'm really enjoying your pre trip report! We're going to Disney the same week as you and I'm hoping for great weather and low crowds! Our family has stayed at an off site villa before and we loved the extra space and LOVED how fast we were able to get to the parks using our own transportation. I think you made a good decision!

The way you are surprising your kids with the timing is great! I love the pizza/cookie idea. I can't wait to hear how it goes! You better end up doing a full TR! I like your writing style and humor.



Looking forward to reading more!

Thank you for the kind words and

If I get enough requests, I will do a full Trip Report when I get back. Ok, who am I kidding... I will do one anyway. I already had way more people stop in to read that I originally expected - so I will be happy to continue the madness in a TR afterward!

 

[BigTex71]

Ok, just too funny! LOVE LOVE LOVE your sarcasm, lol. Not that I can't be sarcastic, but I think you take the cake, lol. Can't wait to hear more!

Thank you so much! But don't expect too much, I may have wasted most of my good material already. But, if I close my eyes and concentrate... maybe The Force with flow through me and partially control my actions, yet obey my commands.

 

[BigTex71]

Though I gave some short updates earlier in non-chapter-ed format, I figured I might as well incorporate all things that have happened since the last chapter entry – so pardon any instances of DejaVu.

It is now official: my DM WILL be joining us at The World! She will be flying in on the day we will be at Universal. She is going to try to get a later flight, so not to interrupt our plans too much since I will pick her up at the airport. That is DM for you… always thinking of the kids. We have an ADR for Boma that evening, but I am not sure if we will make it or not. It depends on the time DMs flight arrives.

Now that I know for sure DM is coming, I head on over to look into changing our ADRs from 4 people to 5 people. Of course there was no availability for 5 this close to the date for Ohana, Crystal Palace, and Tusker House. We figured we would just leave those at 4 and try to get a 5-top when we check in for the ADRs. (I will continue to check for them each day until we leave, but I at least have that as a backup plan.) DW and I look over the ADRs again and decide we may have made a few too many. (Well, DW decides- I could eat at a TS place for every meal, every day at WDW - even second breakfast – without thinking twice.) So we decide (there is that darn ‘we’ again)…. DW decides we should cut back on some of the ADRs. So we drop Tusker House, since we are debating whether we will even go to AK on this trip. I also drop Chef Mickey’s dinner. To make up a little for my losses, I add a Biergarten lunch. DM loves German food and so do I (OK, you got me… I like ALL food, just look at my pictures!) But seriously, Biergarten is seriously good food, seriously.

After all is said and done we have a bit of a new look for ADRs. Here is a sneak peak at a page from My Precious again:


***Sorry again, this was removed ***

As you can see (if you can see, actually), I added a nifty shirt column to My Precious’ Park Days tab. This was instrumental in facilitating proper alignment and construction of the torso coverings we will be brandishing for our journey. (Translated from engineering tech manual speak: I needed this to help plan our t-shirts for the trip.) This helps in several ways: 1) we can determine how many different shirts we need, 2) what color shirts I will need to order for DM to allow us to have matching shirts (if you remember, we are reusing last June’s shirts), 3) determine what day would be best for washing the shirts (I will love having a washer/dryer in the condo), and 4)add more colors to make that tab look flashier. (Man, that was one long sentence – but I believe I warned you about my excessive use of commas and semicolons… but should have also gave sufficient warnings for parenthesis and the three periods together.)

Great segue way (for once) – now it was time for me to order the t-shirts I need so DM will be able to have matching DG (DisneyGeek) t-shirts. {plug} Being the research hound that I am, when I was ordering my t-shirts a few years ago for DG shirts, I found JiffyShirts.com. Great place to order cheap, name-brand t-shirts cheap that don’t cost too much. (Did I mention they are easy on the wallet?){\plug}

{AnotherPlug} I order the shirts I need and then surf on over to the world-famous iron-on transfers home: AmyMickey.com. These are hands down, the best transfers you can find short of silk-screening prints right onto the shirts. If you couldn’t tell, I highly recommend her transfers for making your own DG shirts. {\AnotherPlug} But, seriously, folks – they rock!

Enough serious business, let’s get back to the mental ward. I have my shirts delivered to my work (I hate having packages left at my home doorstep – especially in this economy.) When my first package arrived a few days ago, I chatted for a few minutes with the lovely lady who is our receptionist. She is really cool and a great person. (OK, you got me, I may give her a link to this PTR one day so I wanted to be covered.) I explain the concept of the matching DG shirts and she ‘gets it.’ I also mention that I am training to become a certified Disney travel agent on the side. She gets all excited and explains that she is looking at taking her grand-daughter to WDW soon. Sweet! A potential client already! We go back to work and all is fine.

The next morning (this morning), she calls me on my office line and says she mentioned me and my Disney travel agent status to some of our co-workers (I think it was co-workers… maybe friends of hers instead) and they want my business card when I print them out. So I am not quite ready to start booking yet (I want to finish my online certification first) and I already have some potential clients. She is so sweet to help out like that. (The Force is strong in this one.)

Once I finish making the shirts, I will be sure to post the pictures for proof that I am not just making all of this stuff up (just most of it.)

 

[natebenma]

I love parenthesis, too! (But brackets, not so much)

I'm glad to hear DM can join you. Do the kids know that part yet (I'm guessing yes).

Great spreadsheet! Is the file name actually "My Precious" or does it have a boring name like "Disney Spring Break (ha ha) 2011"

 

[Momof626x3]

I'm so glad to hear your DM can join you! We've taken my MIL on several of our Disney trips and we always have a wonderful time. It's always nice to have an extra adult around.

I can't wait to see your matching shirts! We made matching tie dyes for our last trip and they made it very easy to find eachother!

I really hope you do a TR. I'm very interested in hearing about how your day at Universal goes. I have a DS12 who loves Harry Potter but does not like big roller coasters. I know we will end up there at some point but I'd love to hear if it ends up being worth it for you, since your DS sounds very similar.

2 weeks to go!!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

(Well, DW decides- I could eat at a TS place for every meal, every day at WDW - even second breakfast – without thinking twice.)

Mmmm... second breakfast...

(Man, that was one long sentence – but I believe I warned you about my excessive use of commas and semicolons… but should have also gave sufficient warnings for parenthesis and the three periods together.)

As you can see above, I'm a habitual offender of the three periods rule as well.

Glad your mom is going to get to go, and I love the spreadsheet. Very similar to one I'm working on now, only more colorful and less chaotic.

 

[golfntob]

I am really enjoying your PTR so much! Thank you for sharing with us!! We are going in March (from TX) and staying off site for the first time. WH too AND the sister condo to the one you are staying in!!! Small World! The owner has been so great to work with & the pictures are beautiful. We may never want to leave!

DH is anxious to hear about the driving from the condo to the parks & to see if you find any shortcuts to share.

 

[BigTex71]

I'm glad to hear DM can join you. Do the kids know that part yet (I'm guessing yes).

OMG, I forgot to mention that part! It will be a total surprise for them! They have no idea she will be coming. I am going to go pick her up at the airport while they are at Universal's IoA. We will tell them I have to go do something (not sure yet what we will tell them.) Then I will drop DM off at condo and go back for the family at IoA. When we get back to the condo, Grandma will be there to surprise the kiddos!

Great spreadsheet! Is the file name actually "My Precious" or does it have a boring name like "Disney Spring Break (ha ha) 2011"

Man, I can't believe I actually have it named the plain ol' boring 'Disney2011.xlsx'. I have a feeling it will be renamed shortly - I can't believe I didn't think of that! Thanks for pointing out the obvious to Mr Oblivious.

 

[BigTex71]

I am really enjoying your PTR so much! Thank you for sharing with us!! We are going in March (from TX) and staying off site for the first time. WH too AND the sister condo to the one you are staying in!!! Small World! The owner has been so great to work with & the pictures are beautiful. We may never want to leave!

DH is anxious to hear about the driving from the condo to the parks & to see if you find any shortcuts to share.

Thanks for dropping in! Here is the obligatory

Too cool about the commonalities with us. It's a Small World after all. Or, as I prefer to say, great minds think alike.

I heard of some shortcuts, so I will try them out first hand and report back with the results.

 

[BigTex71]

If there are any lurkers out there, don't be shy. Say hi!

Everyone is welcome and I will try to create a friendly environment, safe from the evils of the outside world. You have a friend in me.

 

[cherylsmike]

Sorry, I was lurking last night. But to my defense it was late and I had to get up for work at 5:30 am. So imagaine my surprise when I check the clock after getting completely caught up (start to finish) and it is 5 minutes to 11pm.

 

[BigTex71]

Sorry, I was lurking last night. But to my defense it was late and I had to get up for work at 5:30 am. So imagaine my surprise when I check the clock after getting completely caught up (start to finish) and it is 5 minutes to 11pm.

Oops! At least it was Friday, right? Or do you work weekends?

Thanks for stopping in and

 

[Turkey Lurkey]

Congrats on the Travel agent thing! With your experience and attention to detail, I'm sure you'll do a Fantasmic job! (See what I did there?)

As geeky as I am, I just can't get into the matching shirts thing. The closest I came was "Her Husband/His Wife" sweatshirts DW and I wore on our honeymoon trip...and I only wore mine on the way down there. However DD and DW have matching Hairy Potter shirts now...so I may break down and get one myself....



TL

 

[BigTex71]

Congrats on the Travel agent thing! With your experience and attention to detail, I'm sure you'll do a Fantasmic job! (See what I did there?)

Thanks. You are so clever!

As geeky as I am, I just can't get into the matching shirts thing. The closest I came was "Her Husband/His Wife" sweatshirts DW and I wore on our honeymoon trip...and I only wore mine on the way down there. However DD and DW have matching Hairy Potter shirts now...so I may break down and get one myself....



TL

Are those shirts a funny parody of Harry Potter, or just a typo?

 

[KangaFan]

Subbing

Great PTR so far--I snagged the link from the TGM Feb club

We did a surprise trip 2 years ago & it was sooo much fun, but really hard to hide the obsessive planning

I'm really interested in your shirts--do the iron-ons hold up with the washer, dryer etc? I tried making some of the print from your computer ones once, but they looked kind of sad after a few washes.

 

[BigTex71]

Subbing

Great PTR so far--I snagged the link from the TGM Feb club

Thanks, and

I'm really interested in your shirts--do the iron-ons hold up with the washer, dryer etc? I tried making some of the print from your computer ones once, but they looked kind of sad after a few washes.

Ours do great, thanks to the awesome transfers from the site I mention in the PTR (I hate to keep rehashing it, but they are really good!) We used our Epson color printer with the transfers and I have not noticed any wear of the ink. The trick to remember using the transfers: use brand new shirts, wash and dry using no fabric softener, then do the iron-on application. Works like a charm.

I hope to get the shirts done tomorrow. I will try to post the pics tomorrow also.

 

[katoot]

Are those shirts a funny parody of Harry Potter, or just a typo?

Parody shirts.

http://www.printfection.com/creaux/Hairy-Potter/_s_322384